Get Soaked in Ansonia

Celebrate Memorial Day in Ansonia

Sprinkler Day Postponed

Fire Department to Host Fun in the Sun Day

NRBQ to Headline Valley Music Festival

 Joe Shapiro, left, Banko's owner, Natalie Hamilton, right, co-founder of Banko's Music Foundation and Mayor Cassetti

ANSONIA - At a press conference on April 9, Banko’s Music announced its music lineup for their inaugural Rock The Summer event at Nolan Field. The July 28th festival will feature legendary regional group and recording artist NRBQ, with preceding act Deep Banana Blackout, a nine piece rhythm and funk bank.

The event will benefit the recently formed Banko’s Music Foundation to benefit music students throughout the valley. Admission is free with a suggested $10 donation. Food trucks will participate along with a beer and wine garden.

For more information, please visit: www.bankosfoundation.org/rock-the-summer

(Information shared from City of Ansonia's Facebook page)

Ansonia Seeking Marching Units

Renovations Cause Location Change for Shelton High School Graduation

(Sharing information from Shelton Public Schools' Facebook Page) 

Regarding SHS 2018 Graduation:

We know this is a big change. We understand there is some disappointment, but we are committed to having a well-run, memorable high school graduation ceremony for our hardworking students.  

However, due to extensive renovations at Finn Stadium, scheduled to begin in May, our graduation ceremony will be held at Nolan Field in Ansonia.

The date will be announced, as always, at the April BOE meeting.

Nothing is ideal about the situation, but this is a better option than doing it indoors.
 
The plan is to have the refurbished field ready for September. We ask for your understanding and flexibility. Together we can make this a positive ceremony for the students. That is our goal!

Chris Clouet, Superintendent of Schools

Play Ball!

(Sharing Information from City of Ansonia's Facebook page)

ANSONIA – With MLB spring training camps now open, what better time to think spring and baseball!

Mayor Dave Cassetti, in conjunction with the Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics, announce that the City of Ansonia will host a regular season Division I college baseball game this spring at Nolan Field.

This is the first-ever event of its kind at Nolan Field.

The game will feature the Sacred Heart University Pioneers vs. University at Albany Great Danes and is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, 2018 with a May 16 rain date. Game time is yet to be determined but will likely be a late afternoon start with Nolan Field’s lights taking effect for the final innings.

“This is an original idea developed by my Constituent Services Director Greg Martin,” said Mayor Cassetti. “It certainly has the potential of becoming a signature event for Ansonia. We plan to offer up our finest hospitality to both teams.”

This inaugural game will be treated as a “pilot” and based on its success, SHU is considering making it an annual “home” game tradition here that could bring in other marquee opponents such as Yale or UCONN to the Copper City.

A nominal admission will be charged for the game.

“This is a great sporting event for families, kids and senior citizens from throughout the valley and beyond to attend and enjoy high caliber Division I college baseball talent,” said Cassetti.

Ansonia 6th Ward Alderman Joshua Shuart, a professor of sports management at Sacred Heart, assisted in bringing both sides together to facilitate the idea along.

SHU has had many players professionally drafted by Major League Baseball, with several continuing their MLB aspirations in the minor leagues. This past summer, Troy Scribner made his MLB debut with the LA Angels, becoming the first Pioneer to appear in “the show.” Scribner, a 2013 graduate of the University, went 2-1 with a 4.18 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 23.2 innings of work in 10 outings with Los Angeles.

SHU is a member of the Northeast Conference and Albany is a member of the America East Conference. Both clubs have qualified for NCAA national tournaments over the past 10 years, with the Pioneers making four trips and the most recent in 2015.

“This is the next best thing to bringing a professional ball game to an intimate, hometown backyard setting,” said Martin. “It’s a unique sporting event opportunity that offers interesting growth potential.”

Nolan Field, considered one of the finest high school facilities in the state for both football and baseball, has previously hosted a Philadelphia Phillies tryout camp in 1948, and even a Major League exhibition game in 1922 featuring the National League St. Louis Cardinals against an Ansonia amateur team that attracted 4,000.

The second largest crowd to watch a baseball game here was in 1972 when Ansonia High School hosted Naugatuck near the end of the Grey Hounds vaunted 64-game winning streak. On a warm Saturday afternoon in May, a crowd estimated by The Evening Sentinel as over 3,000 watched a 15-inning thriller as Naugatuck prevailed 3-2 to keep their streak alive. AHS pitcher Dennis Lee hurled the entire 15 innings.

In 2014, as part of the Ansonia’s 125th anniversary celebration, Martin produced a vintage baseball game set in the 1880’s between the mythical Derby Osbornedales and Ansonia Coppermen played by era rules, uniforms and equipment. The game attracted 1,200 fans.

Nolan Field’s baseball capacity can accommodate up to 5,000 fans.

Martin is a former minor league general manager with the Pittsfield Colonials of the CanAm League and has also co-developed two nationally televised live vintage baseball games for ESPN.

 

Sponsorship & Vendor Opportunities Open for Valley Music Fest

ANSONIA – Aim D'Amaro, owner of Adventures in Music Productions, LLC is happy to announce that A.I.M Productions will be working with the newly formed non-profit organization Banko's Music Foundation, Inc and the City of Ansonia to bring Rock the Summer- A Concert for Music Education to Ansonia's Nolan Field in the summer of 2018.

A.I.M Productions, out of Shelton, CT specializes in producing music events, most notably their daylong Spring festival, Locapalooza which takes place in Bethany, CT every May.

The Banko's Music Foundation, is a non-profit organization formed by Joe Shapiro, the owner of Banko's Music with a mission of advocating for public school music education and awarding scholarships to students pursuing careers in music and music education.

In October of 2017, Banko's Music entered into an agreement with the City of Ansonia to co-present the formerly named Rock the Valley Concert. The Rock the Summer concert will take place on July 28, 2018 from 4pm - 10pm and will feature nationally touring bands providing the music. While this will be a free concert, there is a $5 suggested donation and all proceeds will go to Banko's Music Foundation so that they may continue their efforts. The music lineup is slated to be announced on April 9, 2018. 

In addition to live music on the stage, A.I.M Productions and Banko's are planning on having food trucks, a beer garden and a musical petting zoo, where adults and children will be able to play various instruments, at this event. 

Currently, both sponsorship opportunities for local businesses and applications for food trucks for this event are available.

For inquiries about sponsorship or food vending or more information about the event, please contact:

Aim D'Amaro

203-828-7706

aimproductions@outlook.com

 

To find out more about Banko’s Music Foundation, Inc, please visit their website:

https://bankosfoundation.org/

"Rock the Summer" Event Coming to Ansonia

Ansonia Announces Winter Storm Parking Ban/Closings

From Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti:

 

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT DUE TO SEVERE WINTER WEATHER BEING FORCASTED THERE WILL BE A 24 HOUR CITY-WIDE PARKING BAN BEGINNING AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. ALL CARS WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM CITY STREETS. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT NOLAN FIELD, PINE LOT, COLONY PARK, LINETT PARK, CHRIST'S CHURCH AND EAST AND WEST MAIN PARKING LOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL CITY BUILDINGS WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4TH. 

 

FINALLY, THERE WILL BE A TWO DAY DELAY IN TRASH PICK UP DUE TO THE NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. PLEASE STAY SAFE AND WARM. 

DAVID S. CASSETTI

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Ansonia Skating Rink to Open Wednesday, Feb. 17

ANSONIA - Mayor David Cassetti announced that the grand opening of the new ice skating rink at Nolan Field on Wakelee Avenue has been rescheduled to Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.

The rink was scheduled to open over the weekend, but frigid temperatures and high winds caused the city to reschedule, keeping residents' safety in mind.